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                Use of Federal Funds - Improper Payment Audit
    

    
    
          The Department of Transportation (DOT) has initiated its FY 2017 Improper Payment Audit testing under the Improper Payment Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA) and the Improper Payment Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 (IPERIA).

**FRA Improper Payments Program Test Procedures Checklist**

The following checklist supports all FRA grant recipients’ responsibilities for:

Grant execution to ensure proper use of federal funds; and
	Retention of supporting payment documentation during grant execution and for three years following grant closeout.**1. Grant Agreement Approval**Was the Grant Agreement approved by an authorized signor?**2. Valid Vendor**Does the vendor meet any one of the three conditions?

			The vendor is registered on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) prior to entering into an agreement;
				The vendor self-certified for eligibility of receiving federal funds; or
				The vendor agreement includes a clause or condition that the vendor is not suspended or disbarred.**3. Vendor Agreement Approval**Was the vendor agreement approved by an authorized signor?**4. Date of Funding**Was the cost incurred after the vendor agreement was executed?Was the cost incurred within the agreed upon period of performance of the vendor agreement?**5. Allowable Costs**Was the purpose of the payment allowable under OMB Circular A-87, Attachment B as well as the grant agreement and FRA grant provisions?**6. Invoice Discounts**Were any applicable discounts taken advantage of at the time of payment?**7. Price**Does the price on the invoice agree with the price in the vendor agreement?**8. Goods/Services Received**Is there documentation that the contracted goods and/or services were received in exchange for payment?Was the cost approved by an appropriate authority?**9. Federal Share**Is the federal share requested for reimbursement in accordance with the grant agreement?**10. Payment**Is the price on the vendor’s invoice in accordance with the contract?Is the employee’s salary, hourly, or overtime rate approved and agree with the rate charged to the project?**11. Project Charged**Was the cost charged to the project allowable under the grant agreement?**12. Buy America Certification**Were items purchased subject to Buy America requirements or Amtrak’s Domestic Buying Preference?
              
      
    
          Last updated: Monday, February 5, 2024 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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